
AFP - Incoming US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who takes the helm at the Pentagon on Friday, is determined to avoid gutting the US military despite the prospect of difficult budget decisions.

AFP - Incoming US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who takes the helm at the Pentagon on Friday, is determined to avoid gutting the US military despite the prospect of difficult budget decisions.

Reuters - Leon Panetta was sworn in as U.S. defense secretary on Friday promising to keep the military strong while making tough choices on defense spending cuts.

Reuters - Leon Panetta was sworn in as defense secretary on Friday promising to keep the military strong while making tough choices on defense spending cuts.

AFP - Incoming US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who takes the helm at the Pentagon on Friday, is determined to avoid gutting the US military despite the prospect of difficult budget decisions.

AFP - Incoming US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is determined to avoid gutting the American military despite the prospect of difficult budget decisions looming, a Pentagon spokesman said Thursday.

AFP - The US Senate Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday to approve US Marines Lieutenant General John Allen to be the new US commander in Afghanistan, a key step towards final confirmation.

AFP - A formal end to the ban on gays serving openly in the US military will likely come by late July or early August, outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates told AFP on Thursday.

AFP - President Barack Obama’s candidate for defense secretary, CIA Director Leon Panetta, will appear before senators on June 9 for his confirmation hearing, according to a Senate panel.